Rapidly expanding pub chain comes to Bradenton

A chain of British pubs is arriving in the Sarasota-Bradenton area beginning this summer, when the Snook River Grill on State Road 64 in Bradenton will be transformed into the Firkin and Fox Pub.

Firkin pubs were created in Canada 20 years ago and there are now 33 sites. Recently, the pubs have begun creeping into the United States, where there are now 16 U.S. sites (one in Orlando) and 200 in development, including four in the Sarasota-Bradenton market, says chain spokesman Larry Isaacs.

Franchise owner Jim Schott and his partners will open the first at 2505 State Road 64 E. and then will start the search for his next three, one at a time. Each pub costs from about $298,000 to more than $1 million. Franchise fees are $30,000, plus a 5 percent royalty and 2 percent advertising fee.

Restaurateurs Mindy and Miles Millwee sold Schott the Snook River. The Millwees closed the restaurant this month and Schott and his partners are renovating it.

The southern-style restaurant with the Old Florida feel was too far from the Millwees' two Sarasota restaurants, the Hillview Grill and the Madfish Grill, so when Schott approached them about selling the business, they did not hesitate.

"It was a long way from where we live," Mindy Millwee said. "It's quite a drive and the traffic has just gotten worse and worse. We decided to go ahead and sell."

Schott and his partners were attracted to the restaurant for the same reason the Millwees were: size and location. It is one of the biggest restaurant parcels along State Road 64 and the space for the restaurant is tremendous.

Schott is renovating the interior to fit the Firkin pub mold of plush seats, wide benches, a pool room and a place for darts. The pubs are typically 3,000 to 4,500 square feet, so Schott needed the spacious restaurant.

The chain, ranked 499th in the Franchise 500 list, is in the midst of an aggressive growth campaign because the owners believe it fills a niche that has been underserved. Isaacs said the restaurant is affordable and relaxing. A typical check is about $14 per person. It is a place where people should not feel guilty about lingering. Consider it the English version of Cheers, Isaacs said.

The pub will offer beer -- 14 on tap -- mixed with the typical English fare of fish and chips and bangers and mash (sausages and potatoes). It will also have some more typical sports bar offerings such as hot wings and nachos.